SUMMERS COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Summers County 911 is preparing for the upcoming winter season by identifying warming stations, emergency shelter locations and volunteer resources to assist residents during severe winter weather.
Officials announced that five locations throughout Summers County are currently available to be opened as warming stations during periods of extremely cold temperatures, particularly when power outages occur.
Warming stations will operate during limited hours and will not provide overnight accommodations.
The designated warming station locations include:
- Forest Hill Fire Department: 16166 Route 12, Forest Hill
- Talcott Fire Department: 263 Pat Ball Road, Talcott
- Sandstone Missionary Baptist Church: 25 Honaker Road, Sandstone
- Summers County Memorial Building: 451 1st Avenue, Hinton
- Pence Springs Community Church: 8195 State Route 3 and 12, Pence Springs
Summers County 911 is also seeking additional churches, businesses and other facilities willing to serve as warming stations. Interested property owners are encouraged to contact the agency to discuss establishing a memorandum of understanding.
For residents needing overnight accommodations during severe weather emergencies, the Summers County Memorial Building in Hinton has been designated as the county’s emergency shelter.
The shelter can provide sleeping arrangements, food, drinks, medical assistance and showers. Transportation to the facility can also be arranged.
The overnight shelter will be activated through a partnership between Summers County 911 and the American Red Cross.
Officials emphasized that the warming stations and emergency shelter will open as needed rather than operate continuously throughout the winter.
In addition to identifying emergency shelter locations, Summers County 911 is encouraging residents to volunteer during disasters.
Officials said the county’s rural geography and relatively small population create an ongoing need for volunteers who can assist during emergencies.
Residents interested in helping can register with the American Red Cross, which provides free training in several areas of disaster response. Volunteer registration is available at https://www.redcross.org/local/west-virginia/volunteer.html.
Residents can also contact Summers County 911 Director Loyd Lowry at [email protected] to be added to the county’s volunteer resource list.
The agency is also considering reestablishing the county’s former Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Officials said residents interested in participating should contact Lowry. Training courses through the Federal Emergency Management Agency are available online at no cost and can be completed at an individual’s own pace.
Summers County 911 said the preparations are intended to ensure resources and volunteers are available to assist residents when severe winter weather affects the county.
